How Fire Safety Domain is Becoming Tech Enabled

Use in Smart Homes & Buildings

Increasing automation in buildings and preference for smart homes along with rising demand from the mining and manufacturing industries in the country is bolstering the demand of Fire Safety Equipment. Growing need for mass transportation, such as airport security, including intelligent transportation systems, due to rapid industrialization and urbanization in emerging economy like India is anticipated to offer lucrative growth opportunities for the market.

Usually, Fire Safety Equipment has its applications in homes and offices. Single station residential smoke alarms are installed in most homes, as they are the simplest system for detecting a fire and warning the building occupants. Embedded system is applied for the development of smart residential fire detecting and exhausting system. Due to rapid urbanization in India, the market is propelling with applications in the residential sector.

Wireless Sensors

Increasing accidents and loss of property owing to fire breakouts has alarmed the need for installation of smart systems, such as wireless sensor networks, across the industrial, commercial and residential sectors. Therefore, regulatory bodies across the country are framing new regulations focusing on mandating the installation of fire safety equipment.

Recently, a wireless system, known as ZigBee has received attention for its applications in the fire early detection system. This system is becoming more attractive to housing, as it accommodates elderly people who live alone, because it is perceived to be more secure.

Fire Alarm System

In Delhi, the centralized smart fire alarm system introduced in buildings and villas, helped to prevent a fire in a villa. This system is aimed at linking houses with the smart alarm system. The villa incident is an example of how the system helped to prevent a fire. Stringent government regulations and mandates is driving the market. The implementation of unified building codes in various tier 1 and tier 2 cities across all end-user segments, mandated by local authorities, has pushed the demand for fire safety systems.

Challenges in the Way

High Installation and maintenance cost is restraining the market to grow. The fire safety systems’ costs vary, depending on the lifespan, size, use and type of the building. In general, fire alarm systems are more expensive to install in older buildings than in the newly constructed ones.

End users face a different challenge due to the complexity in integration of fire detection systems with other fire detection or suppression systems, thereby making it mandatory for them to learn using multiple interfaces.

Future Dynamics

In the coming future, advanced technologies such as nanotechnology, human machine interface solutions and smart building are anticipated to enter the fire safety equipment market. Recent innovation has produced advanced sensors which help in relaying accurate data to control units. The advancement of technology through the use of intelligent sensors, detectors and their connectivity with distant users through WAN or LAN networks will drive the demand for fire safety equipment market across the country.